Garvin County Health Department officials confirmed Thursday the grandmother of a 12-year old Paoli girl who died from meningitis last week is the second victim of the disease in as many weeks.
Darlene Campbell, 75, of Paoli died April 7, just three days after her grand-daughter, Alyssa Nichole Campbell, succumbed to meningitis.
At first county health officials were told the elderly Campbell’s death was not due to meningitis.
“When we interviewed family members of the youth to identify and recommend antibiotics to protect those who had close, personal contact with the youth, this particular individual was not identified as someone who had close contact with her,” said Joleyne Temple, District Nurse Manager of the Garvin County Health Department.
Temple told the Daily Democrat Thursday that two independent hospitals had tested Darlene Campbell for meningitis and the tests had come back negative.
“Based on those tests and the fact she was not identified as a family member who had close contact with her grand-daughter, we had no reason to believe her death was due to meningitis,” Temple said.
However, the state department of health requested further tests by the Centers for Disease Control.
“When the CDC tests came back, they confirmed that Mrs. Campbell’s death was in fact due to meningitis,” Temple said.
Campbell is the third person in the state to die from meningococcal disease this year and the seventh reported case of the disease.
“Our sympathies go out to this family who are dealing with these unexpected deaths,” Temple said.
Despite the fact two people from the small Garvin County town have died from the disease, Temple stressed there is still no public health risk.
“The Garvin County Health Department has concluded its active investigation of contacts and we believe any individuals at risk have already received antibiotics as a preventive measure,” she said.
“Casual contacts, such as students in a school classroom, or co-workers at a workplace, or church are not at increased risk of getting the disease and therefore do not need treatment with antibiotics. Persons who were never in contact with the persons that were diagnosed with meningococcal disease are not at risk.”
Meningococcal disease is caused by the bacteria Neisseria meningitidis. Many healthy people carry meningococcal bacteria in their nose and throat without any symptoms.
Usually, the bacteria stay in the nose and throat for a few days and will then disappear. The bacteria are spread from person-to-person by direct contact with secretions from the nose and throat.
It is not clearly understood why the organism disappears in some people and produces illness in others.
For more information on meningococcal disease, contact the Garvin County Health Department at (405) 238-7346, or the Epidemiologist-on-call at the Oklahoma State Department of Health Acute Disease Service at (405) 271-4060.
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